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Equinties - DRF DTF
BGP Capital
January 29, 2026
Gm, Equinauts
DRF dec’s day, just another day of racing X in meltdown…
Let’s dive in.
HEADLINE ROUNDUP
DRF DTF!
Leopardstown and it’s groundcrew pulled off a remarkable recovery after heavy flooding from Storm Chandra, declaring the track fit for the DRF this weekend.
Parts of the back straight resembled "the River Liffey" earlier in the week after 170mm of rain over 12 days, with standing water and saturation forcing optimism to be tested.
Ground staff efforts were described as "Trojan" by officials, and despite a forecast of more rain before racing starts, CEO Mark Clayton and Clerk of the Course Paddy Graffin expressed full confidence. An update confirmed the ground is improving rapidly, with hopes for soft conditions suiting the line up of proper winter horses.
All major contenders stood their ground at the Tuesday forfeit stage, including GALOPIN DES CHAMPS chasing a record fourth Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (15.30 Saturday - set your alarms), LOSSIEMOUTH in the Irish Champion Hurdle (15.20 Sunday - set your alarms for that too) and novice chaser FINAL DEMAND.
Bryan Drew, FINAL DEMAND’s owner says he will take all the beating on the day. The last twice FINAL DEMAND has won for Bryan, PANIC ATTACK has won on the same weekend, courtesy of Dan Skelton, to give the owner two weekends other owners could only dream of (unless you’re JP). We thought Dan might be helping Drew go for the ‘weekend double’ three-timer with MADARA but she is now swerving Sandown for Kempton Monday.
KOPEK DES BORDES
A huge name to be missing from the Irish Arkle line up is punters favourite KOPEK DES BORDES. He hasn’t been seen since last year owed to a routine op but now he’s missing his intended come back run.
It seems like the bookies knew about this long before it was announced today though - they’ve been selling him off for weeks. STINKS.
Racing X ain’t happy:
This event will no doubt have his March backers furiously sweating. He’ll have to go straight to Cheltenham now… that’s if he does make it. That’s horses, we’re afraid.
Via owner Charlie McCarthy, Willie Mullins has stated the horse will go straight to Cheltenham. To be honest, if it was any other trainer we’d see this as a huge negative and would look to take him on. But Willie is a wizard and if anyone can get a horse to win a Grade 1 straight off the bat, he can.
HURDLES IN
While Leopardstown steals the show, Sandown still provides some sexy jumps action to fill the gaps between the Irish Grade 1’s, a bit like the Cowboy cheerleader’s keeping the boys entertained between downs.
It’s card has managed to stick to the original plan of featuring both hurdles and chases, with no switch to an all-chase program required. Following the BHA's precautionary inspection at 8am this morning, the hurdles course was passed as raceable despite recent saturation from heavy rain—described in going reports as heavy-soft in places on hurdles (with some lingering waterlogged sections) and soft-heavy in places on the chase track.
This allows the full scheduled programme to proceed, including key hurdles races like the big Premier Handicap over 2m7f worth a nice £100,000. Obviously, it’s feature race is the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase which see’s Mullins’ KITZBUHEL odds on. Is Mullins starting a late charge for the Trainers title!?
(He’s got no chance unless Dan’s yard catches the plague).
Expect attritional racing across the day… which brings us on to some clever marketing - make sure you’re a premium newsletter subscriber because quite simply, the mud is kinda our thing.
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